ATV Trail Ordinance Survives Vote In Barnet, But Not Cabot

Barnet voters have decided to
keep an ordinance that allows all terrain vehicles to use some town roads. The
vote on Wednesday was prompted by a
petition proposing to ban ATV's on public roads. Opponents say they make too
much noise and damage surfaces, and they worry that ATV tours will collide with
other vehicles or pedestrians.

Assistant Town Clerk Cathy McLam says ATV's have been getting more
controversial in Barnet.

"And I think they're growing and so there's
more ATV's on the road and I think it's more noticeable to some of the people that didn't know we had passed this a
couple years ago," McLam said.

Opponents lost by a vote of
215-129, so the select board will keep the ordinance allowing ATV's. But Town
Clerk Ben Heisholt says it could come up
for review again, at Town Meeting in March.

"They review specifically what roads are going
to be permitted for that year, and I think that's probably a good venue for
folks who are opposed to the ordinance either in general or specific aspects of
it to come in and have their say," said Heisholt.

But for now, the ordinance
stands, and ATV riders are pleased. In Cabot, on November 6, the vote went
another way, with residents defeating an ordinance that would have expanded the
public network of roads open to ATV's.